Cole leaps onto scene

Mike Sims

Wednesday, May 11, 2005 | 9:33 a.m.

Just look at Rhendell Cole and you can tell he was born with a great deal of athleticism.

The junior from Desert Pines is one of the top athletes in this week's regional track and field meet at Palo Verde.

Cole, who also stars on the basketball team, is in his first season with the track team and has big goals for the end.

"I got into track because of my basketball coach," Cole said. "He thought it would be a good idea for me to run track this year."

DeShawn Henry, the basketball coach at Desert Pines, is also the track and field coach. It wasn't hard to get Cole to come out and participate.

"Rhendell is doing very well this year," Henry said. "He is putting up marks in his first year that are unheard of."

Henry said he is surprised aboutthe way Cole has performed in his first season, even knowing how good an athlete he is.

Cole has the best long jump in the state so far this season at 22 feet, 9 inches. That is a 11 inches farther than Mojave's Rashaun Greer at 21 feet 10 inches.

"Greer pushes me to do better," Cole said. "We go back and forth in these meets."

Cole not only competes in the long jump but the high jump and relays as well. The high jump is another event Cole is tops in.

"He came out of nowhere this year," Eldorado high jumper Tony McGee said. "I finished third at state last year and came into this year thinking I would have a lock on the competition down here, but Rhendell outjumped me and surprised me."

The two have known each other for awhile, having both attended Eldorado before Cole moved to Desert Pines.

"I told him this week I was going to bring everything I have to try and beat him,"McGee said.

Cole said McGee is his toughest competition in the high jump, but he has beaten him every time the two have competed this year.

"He has to bring it to beat me," Cole said. "We are pretty good friends, having gone to school together before and played basketball against each other."

Despite their friendship, the two have very different styles around the pit.

"Rhendell has a lot of power in the high jump and the long jump, but he does not have the best technique, " Henry said. "McGee has great technique."

Henry said what helps Cole is his love for competition.

"I am impressed on how he handles the competition. He is doing extremely well for his first year," Henry said.

Cole is hoping his success in his first season doesn't stop until he makes a strong performance at the regional and state tournaments.

"The goal is to have a strong showing at regional and go to state, and defiantly have a strong showing at state," Henry said.